Alien species and their impact on native flora and fauna

biological sciences

intermediate

OB2_W03

OB2_W12

OB2_U11

OB2_K06

Basic knowledge of fauna, including aliens; and basic knowledge of the causes, ways and effects of invasions in the animal and plant world

The subject acquaints with various forms of rescue or recovery activities of native fauna and flora in Poland and in the world. It allows to learn about alien, often invasive species of fauna and flora of different habitats, paying attention to the similarities and differences in the way of settling. Shows the underlying causes of the growing problem of alien species. It demonstrates active protection activities in Poland and in the world.

The subject acquaints with various forms of rescue or recovery activities of native fauna and flora in Poland and in the world. It allows to learn about alien, often invasive species of fauna and flora of different habitats, paying attention to the similarities and differences in the way of settling. Shows the underlying causes of the growing problem of alien species. It demonstrates active protection activities in Poland and in the world.

1. Introduction and organizational issues – information regarding rules, requirements and expectations

2. Native species, alien species, expansion, invasion, introduction - definitions and discussion of the differences with examples from the world of plants and animals

3. Systematic differentiation and rate of introduction of alien fauna in Poland - overview on examples.

4. Origin of alien species in the Polish fauna and ways to monitor phenomena - overview on examples.

5. Prehistoric, historic and contemporary introductions within Polish territory - overview on examples from different taxonomic groups of animals

6. Introduced and alien invasive snails (class Gastropods) and shellfish (subphylum Crustaceans) in the Polish fauna - overview on examples

7. Introduced and alien invasive beetles (order Coleoptera) and butterflies (order Lepidoptera) in the Polish fauna - overview on examples

8. Introduced and alien invasive sturgeons (Acipenseridae) and Salmonids (Salmonidae) in the Polish fauna - overview on examples

9. Introduced and alien invasive carp family (Cyprinidae), catfishes (Siluriformes) and Perciformes in the Polish fauna - overview on examples

10. Introduced and alien invasive amphibians, reptiles and birds in the Polish fauna - overview on examples

11. Introduced and alien invasive rodents and lagomorphs in the Polish fauna - overview on examples

12. Introduced and alien invasive carnivorans and even-toed ungulates in the Polish fauna - overview on examples

13. General characteristics of alien plants in the Polish flora: origin, participation in the flora of different habitats, risk assessment for invasive species.

14. The impact of invasive plant species and means of prevention

15. Characteristics of alien invasive trees and shrubs in selected habitats that may threaten biodiversity

16. Summary of the course

1. Andrzejewski R., Weigle A. (red.) 2003. Różnorodność biologiczna Polski. Narodowa Fundacja Ochrony Środowiska, Warszawa: 1- 284.

2. Brylińska M. (red.); Ryby słodkowodne Polski, PWN, Warszawa:

3. Dajdok Z., Pawlaczyk P. 2009. Inwazyjne gatunki roślin ekosystemów mokradłowych Polski

4. Głowaciński Z (red) 2008. Księga gatunków obcych inwazyjnych w faunie Polski.. Instytut Ochrony Przyrody. www.iop.krakow.pl/gatunkiobce

5. Głowaciński Z., Bieniek M., Dyduch A., Gertychowa R., Jakubiec Z., Kosior A., Zemanek M. 1980. Stan fauny kręgowców i wybranych bezkręgowców Polski – wykaz gatunków, ich występowanie, zagrożenie i status ochronny. Studia Naturae, seria A – Wydawnictwa Naukowe 21: 1-163, Kraków.

6. Mały słownik zoologiczny. Ryby; Gady i płazy; Ptaki.; Ssaki (4 tomy)

7. Nowak E. 1971. O rozprzestrzenianiu się zwierząt i jego przyczynach (na przykładzie 28 współcześnie rozprzestrzeniających się gatunków z terenu Europy). Zeszyty Naukowe- Instytut Ekologii PAN, Warszawa, 3: 1-255.

8. Pawłowski J. 2008 Środki i kierunki inwazji zwierząt. W: Głowaciński (red.) Gatunki obce inwazyjne w faunie Polski. Zagadnienia problemowe i syntezy

9. Tałałaj I. 2012. Rośliny chronione i gatunki inwazyjne w dolinie Biebrzy - trwanie i migracja w zmieniających się warunkach środowiska

10. Tokarska-Guzik B., Dajdok Z., Zając M., Zając A.,Urbisz A., Danielewicz W., Hołdyński C. 2012. Rośliny obcego pochodzenia w Polsce, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem gatunków inwazyjnych

11. Witkowski A., Kotusz J., Przybylski M., Marszał L., Heese T., Amirowicz A., Buraś P., Kukuła K. 2004. Pochodzenie, skład gatunkowy i aktualny stopień zagrożenia ichtiofauny w dorzeczu Wisły i Odry. Archives of Polish Fisheries 12 suppl.2: 7-20.

12. Witkowski A. 2008. (msc) Introdukcje ryb w Polsce, ich ekologiczne i gospodarcze konsekwencje. W: Z. Głowaciński (red.); Gatunki introdukowane i inwazyjne w faunie Polski. Wyd. Instytutu Ochrony Przyrody PAN w Krakowie, Kraków.

1. Knowledge :

EK 1 – the student defines and describes different ways of alien fauna and flora appearance, explains differences; understands and explains the relationships between inanimate nature and the ways and rate of the biological invasion

EK 2 – the student knows the history of the appearance of alien species of animals and plants in Poland and is able to characterize the process and environmental conditions (including climatic) and population factors of the invasion of selected alien species

EK 3 - the student is able to identify the threats of alien species invasions for native fauna and flora on a local, regional and global scale.

EK 4 – the student can identify and classify alien fauna and flora of different environments and analyze threats to national fauna and flora; knows methods and techniques for monitoring and limiting the consequences of invasions

EK - 5 – student can summarize the status and quality of the protection of native fauna and flora against alien species of different habitats of the region; is able to define and propose short- and long-term conservation goals, including methods of the rescue or restoration of native fauna; is able to list institutions and organizations concerned with the financial support of nature conservation projects

EK 6 - the students recognizes the basic terms in a foreign language (English) in the field of the nature and environment conservation

2. Skills:

EK 7 – Student is able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of standard actions taken to solve existing environmental problems in connection with biological invasions.

3. Competence:

EK 8 – Student develops awareness of the need for intervention in the environment related to biological invasions in order to ensure the ecological safety of native fauna and flora

Knowledge (EK 1-6)

Grade 2: the student cannot define different forms of species invasion in Poland and explain differences between them; does not know the forms and methods of rescuing or restoration native fauna and flora, and is unable to identify similarities and differences between them; is unable to recognize and distinguish invasive fauna and flora of selected habitats; cannot identify threats to selected species/groups of species, does not know the forms of active conservation measures and institutions supporting the nature and environmental protection in Poland; does not know basic terms in English in the field of nature and environmental protection

Grade 3: the student can define various forms of biological invasion and explain the differences between them; the student briefly and incompletely characterizes forms of rescue or recovery of native fauna and flora, cannot name most of the differences and similarities between the activities for the protection of plants and animals; the student recognizes and distinguishes the minority of invasive fauna and flora in selected habitats; lists the existing threats and active protective measures to a very limited extent; the student has limited knowledge about the condition and quality of the species conservation of the selected group of animals and cannot propose potential protection solutions for the future; has difficulties with identification of the institutions supporting environmental and nature protection in Poland; poorly demonstrates knowledge of the basic concepts of nature protection and environmental protection in the foreign language (English)

Grade 4: The student knows the forms of biological invasions, can explain differences between them; is able to characterize forms of rescue or restoration of native fauna and flora; can list most of the differences and similarities in plant and animal protection activities; the student recognizes and distinguishes most of the representatives of invasive fauna in selected habitats, can identify most threats and protective measures in these areas; the student has a solid knowledge about the condition and quality of the species conservation of the selected fauna group, and is trying to propose potential conservation solutions for the future; the student is able to identify some of the most important institutions supporting the protection of nature and the environment in Poland; demonstrates a good knowledge of basic terms in the field of the nature and environmental protection in a foreign language (English)

Grade 5: the student knows perfectly well the ways and forms of biological invasions in Poland and in the world, and is able to characterize them taking into account the conditions of each; knows perfectly various forms of rescuing or restoring native fauna and flora, paying attention to the similarities and differences in activities for native plants and animals; very well recognizes the invasive species of fauna and flora of selected habitats; can list the threats to nature and the form of corrective actions, and is able to propose potential real to use solutions for the future; the student is able to identify most (or all) institutions financially supporting the protection of nature and environment in Poland; knows very well at least basic terms in the field of nature and environmental protection in the foreign language (English)

Skills (EK 7)

Grade 2: Student is not able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of standard actions taken to solve existing environmental problems in connection with biological invasions.

Grade 3: Student is able, to a very limited extent, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of standard actions taken to solve existing environmental problems in connection with biological invasions.

Grade 4: Student is able to identify some of the strengths and weaknesses of standard activities undertaken to solve existing environmental problems related to biological invasions

Grade 5: Student is very good at identifying the strengths and weaknesses of standard actions taken to solve existing environmental problems in connection with biological invasions.

Competence (EK 8)

Grade 2: student does not develop awareness of the need for intervention in the environment related to biological invasions in order to ensure the ecological safety of native fauna and flora

Grade 3: Student has rather poor awareness of the need for intervention in the environment related to biological invasions in order to ensure the ecological safety of native fauna and flora

Grade 4: Student understands to some extent the need for intervention in the environment related to biological invasions in order to ensure the ecological safety of native fauna and flora

Grade 5: Student is fully aware of the need for intervention in the environment related to biological invasions in order to ensure the ecological safety of native fauna and flora